Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1887-07-28

AoWs Ou tne verge OF death rs he was,
Mark noted this with thrill of pleasure.)
Can you hold on till can get assistancean
Mark made rapid calculation. Three
miles to the nearest house, and the rough
est possible path. 1t would take at least
an hour for help to reach him. Too we'll
he knew that he could not retain his hold.
for half that time. He was already much
exhausted and becoming dizzy. Itrequired
great effort to keep from falling.
aNo." said Mark, mournfully. ave
must shout for help, and if no one comes
l must attempt to-scale cliff"
The clear, agonized voice of the girl rose
on the air, but was nearly drowned by the
ever-increasing roar of the sea. Marks
deep voice penetrated but little farther.
Neither could be heard half
mile. Their cries re-echoed from
crag to crag until there seemed
to be score of voices calling. A score
calllng-but not one replying!
After few minutes spent in this way it
became evident to both that it was useless.
Mark was growing weaker. He felt the
necessity of making his perilous effort be-
fore losing more strength.
Without word he lays hold of some
sharp points of rock above him aud at
tempts to ascend. When up about three
feet his foot suddenly slips, and, half I'M
conscious, he feels himself roughly sliding
down the faco of the cliff. Throwing out
his hands by instinct, one of them reaches
fissure in the rock and he finds himself,
faint and breathless, in his original posi-
ton. Nothing but a miracle saved him
from going over the precipice.
Kitty, hearing the noise, cried out in an
agony of apprehension.
aIt is no use" called poor Mark; "a cat
could not climb it-much less man. I
must remain here until I fall from ex-
haustion, unless somebody comes. And
what could they do if they did?"
Kitty was in despair. Must she remain
there doing nothing and see her lover
perish? She never realized before how
she loved him, or, indeed, thnt she loved
him at oil. Now it was all revealed to her.
And she the cause of his PERIL A pang of
anguish passed through her when she
thought of this.
What should she do? She looked about
wildly.
All! The milk,reed
The hill was covered with it. Her knowl-
edge of botany was not useless.
Running to the verge of the cliff, she
cried out:
"What is the longest possible time you
can hold on?"
"Twenty or twenty-five minutes" said
Mark, feebly.
"Then for Heavens sake, cling"
Rushing back, she pulled up score of
the largest stocks of milkweed. Selecting
one, she rolled the fiber into cord or
string. How often she had seen her
teacher do this when botanizing! She
knew the cord thus formed to be very
strong, capable of supporting at least
| twenty-five pounds. -Four of these twisted
together made q substantial rope, but they
were so rery short-not more than two
feet in length
Milkweed after milkweed succumbed to
her deft fingers, until at length, by FREE
quent splicing, she had rope ten feet
long and four strands strong. 1t would
easily bear one hundred pounds. This
was enough-his own efforts: aided by the
| projecting rocks and fissures, would ac-
complish the rest.
Kitty, in spite of her celebrity, was nearly
twenty minutes manufacturing the rope.
She knew that Marks strength must be
| most gone.
Hearing her approach the brink alone
the poor fellow lost all courage, supposing
her unknown mission had failed.
aGood bye, Kitty, L"
20 mark! Hold on! Hold on mirute
longer!" and she flung him the rope.
He summoned up all his strength. See
ing the rope he took it in his hands and
said with surprise:
| @Will it hold?"
@Yes; your whole weight, probably. But
that will not be necessary. Let me know
when you are ready"
"Brace yourself! If nm loo much of q
burden let go instantly; for Heavens sake
don't let me pull you over the precipice.
Ready!"
Up, up, he goes, his hope lending him
superhuman strength. He makes every
projection and depression of the rock con-
tribute TO his support. His feet often
slip, but the rope, with the strong, brave
girl at the farther end, upholds him. A
moment more and he falls fainting at the
top of the cliff.
Kitty is about to faint, but seeing his
condition, RECEIVERS herself and hastens to
a neighboring spring for water. Mark
soon revivcs, but his mind is clouded.
Looking around he says:
The flower! Where is the flower?"
"Neyer mind that, dear" "-he thought
she said adear," but was SO nearly uncon-
scious as never TO be sure-"it is safe.
Don't talk now, until you are feeling bet
ter"
A few minutes and he is himself again.
Holding up the flower, bruised and broken,
which he has clung 10 with a lovers care
through ell his peril, he says:
"Not much of gift but I got it for
you."
/ "Why, it is forget-me mot, "cries Kitty.
1 aYes; q forget-me-not; and its language
is true love-. OKitty let it be nm emblem
of the love bear you,' presenting it to
her.
4As such accept it, p she replies, softly.
i a GENTLEMAyLY DOG.
/ There is dog who lives in one OF
our nearest suburbs who proves q great
solace to widow to whom he does not
belong. Dogs are usually given to con-
fining the benefits of their care to